Immersive virtual reality in a northern Queensland haemodialysis unit: Study protocol for a cross-over randomized controlled feasibility trial (ACTRN12621000732886).

Introduction: Despite being a life-preserving medical treatment, the demands of haemodialysis are a significant impost on individuals, posing considerable burdens on their work, vocational activities and involvement with family and community. In our region, patients who have had to relocate considerable distances to a regional city for dialysis, and First Nations people, are less likely to attend all scheduled dialysis sessions. Virtual reality (VR) has been shown to improve engagement with care of people on haemodialysis.

Rethinking Risk Perception and its Importance for Explaining Natural Hazard Preparedness Behavior.

Psychological theory suggests there is a positive association between risk perception and protective behavior. Empirical research has, however, found mixed support for the positive link between risk perception and protective behavior. One explanation for the inconsistent link is the way in which risk perception has been conceptualized and/or operationalized in past research.

An examination of the internal consistency and structure of the Statistical Anxiety Rating Scale (STARS).

The purpose of the current study was to examine the internal consistency and structure of the English version of the Statistical Anxiety Rating Scale (STARS). Participants were 202 (79% females) psychology undergraduates was recruited from James Cook University's Singapore (71%) and Australia (29%) campuses. Acceptable internal consistency reliabilities, ranging from .

Transferring an Analytical Technique from Ecology to the Sport Sciences.

Background: Learning transfer is defined as an individual's capability to apply prior learnt perceptual, motor, or conceptual skills to a novel task or performance environment. In the sport sciences, learning transfers have been investigated from an athlete-specific perspective. However, sport scientists should also consider the benefits of cross-disciplinary learning to aid critical thinking and metacognitive skill gained through the interaction with similar quantitative scientific disciplines.

Effect of portable non-invasive ventilation & environmental conditions on everyday activities.

The current study examined the effect of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) within environments of differing temperature and humidity on several physiological and perceptual responses while performing six activities of daily living (i.e. putting on shirt/shoes/trousers, vacuuming, hanging towels, and walking on a treadmill).

Development and validation of a work stressor scale for Australian farming families.

Objective: The aim of this research was to gain insight into the key stressors for Australian farming families. It is well established that the farming work environment consists of a number of unique stressors which arise from dependency on factors beyond an individual's control (e.g.

Stages of change, smoking behaviour and readiness to quit in a large sample of indigenous Australians living in eight remote north Queensland communities.

Tobacco smoking is a major health issue for Indigenous Australians, however there are few interventions with demonstrated efficacy in this population. The Transtheoretical Model may provide a useful framework for describing smoking behaviour and assessing readiness to quit, with the aim of developing better interventions. Interviews were conducted with 593 Indigenous Australians in eight rural and remote communities in north Queensland, to examine stages of change and smoking behaviour.

Health advice obtained by tourists travelling to Magnetic Island: a risk area for 'Irukandji' jellyfish in North Queensland, Australia.

Background: Little is known about the travel health advice obtained by tourists travelling to Magnetic Island, which is a known risk area for the potentially fatal 'Irukandji' jellyfish on the Great Barrier Reef coast of north Queensland, Australia.

Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 208 ferry passengers (93% response) travelling between Townsville (Latitude 19 degrees S) and Magnetic Island.

Results: Less than half of the international tourists (21, 46%) had obtained travel health advice before coming to north Queensland, although they were significantly more likely to have done so than domestic tourists (p<0.

Reported knowledge, perceptions, and behavior of tourists and North Queensland residents at risk of contact with jellyfish that cause the "Irukandji syndrome".

Objective: To determine the knowledge, beliefs, and behavior of local residents and visitors to North Queensland who may be at risk of contact with "Irukandji" jellyfish.

Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 208 ferry passengers (92.9% response) traveling between Magnetic Island and Townsville (19 degrees S).